Airline flights for Hub City get canceled

Northwest official blames problems in Twin Cities

Northwest official blames problems in Twin Cities

August 22, 2007|By Jackie Burke, American News Writer

Seven of the eight Mesaba Airlines flights out of Aberdeen were canceled Monday and Tuesday after problems at the Twin Cities airport. Dave Osborn, manager of Aberdeen Regional Airport, said the flights were canceled because of several problems in the Twin Cities area, including construction on a runway and bad weather. Mesaba Airlines is owned and operated by Northwest Airlines and flies between the Aberdeen Regional Airport and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Darren Shannon, with Northwest Airlines media relations, said the cancellations can be blamed mostly on the weather. “We've just been getting pummeled,” he said. “It's literally a weather issue.” On Tuesday morning, thick fog covered the Twin Cities, which doesn't make for good flying conditions, Shannon said. He did not immediately know about flights before Monday. Northwest Airlines is not the only airline experiencing cancellations, Shannon said. All airlines operating out of Minneapolis-St. Paul have been forced to cancel some flights. Along with weather, construction on one of the four runways is causing airlines to rework their flight schedules. According to the Metropolitan Airport Commission Web site, 3,100 feet of the south parallel runway at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is being reconstructed. To reconstruct this portion of the runway, it must be closed, making it unusable for about two months. The runway is expected to reopen in mid-October. The runway closure means increased use of the airport's other three runways - causing delays and reduced flight schedules. Shannon said Northwest Airlines is urging customers to check the status of their flights before leaving for the airport. Flight information can be found by calling (800) 441-1818 or visiting www.nwa.com. Mesaba customers whose flights were canceled have seven days to reschedule, compared to the normal one day, Shannon said. Great Lakes Airlines, which partners with United and Frontier, continues to fly between Aberdeen and Denver. Reporter Jackie Burke; (605) 622-2303 or 1-800-925-4100 ext. 303; jburke@aberdeennews.com